America... Spying on Americans

The Democrats in Congress are dealing with a problem that they can't admit. That is that they attempt to pander to some of their extremist, vocal constituency, while at the same time they know that continuing the NSA programs is wise and necessary, so they try to play both ends of the spectrum. NSA is only one example. The problem applies to most issues.

ACLU releases 'first concrete evidence' of domestic spying for anti-war views

RAW STORY
Published: Tuesday March 14, 2006


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Documents released today by the American Civil Liberties Union reveal that the Federal Bureau of Investigations has indeed monitored political groups solely on the basis that they opposed a U.S.-led war.

According to a memo written in 2002, the FBI launched a classified investigation into the activities of Pittsburgh's Thomas Merton Center after becoming concerned that the group held "daily leaflet distribution activities in downtown Pittsburgh and [was] currently focused on its opposition to the potential war on Iraq." The memo aimed to summarize the investigation's results.

It identifies the group as "a left-wing organization advocating, among many political causes, pacifism."

The ACLU has filed Freedom of Information Act requests on behalf of over 150 organizations and individuals. The documents released as a result have revealed monitoring and infiltration of political, environmental, anti-war and faith-based groups by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.

"Something is seriously wrong in how our government determines who and what constitutes terrorism when peace activists find themselves targeted," remarked Jim Kleissler, Executive Director of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Growing dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq has driven President Bush's approval rating to a new low of 36 percent, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Monday. . . .

Bush launched his latest effort to shore up support for the war Monday, accusing Iran of providing explosives used to attack American troops and telling an audience at George Washington University that U.S. forces were "making progress" against insurgents.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Authorities said at least 86 bodies were found in the Iraqi capital during a 30-hour period ending midday Tuesday, sparking fears that sectarian reprisal killings are continuing at a grisly pace.

Halliburton Energy Services NYSE: HAL is a multinational corporation based in Houston, Texas. With revenues exceeding $20.46 billion (U.S. FY 2004). . . .

Beware of Bush's accusations against IRAN. We can't believe a single word that tumbles out of the prevaricator's mouth.

How soon will it be before he sends our troops into Iran? First Afghanistan . . . then Iraq . . . and soon Iran. You know Bush has an itchy trigger finger . . . and Halliburton wants to control Iranian oil fields and acquire billions more in lucrative war contracts before Bush's presidential term ends.

Whatever is good for the filthy rich republicans and Haliburton is good for the Country. Send your sons to die for Halliburton . . . I mean, for the United States. God Bless America.

Sorry, she's just accurately pointing out that there exists zero credibility amongst the Administration when it comes to warnings about WMD and nuclear issues.

They are proven liars/incompetent, take your pick. Either way there is no objective reason to trust them.

Cycloptichorn

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/ACLU_releases_first_concrete_evidence_of_0314.html

Quote:

ACLU releases 'first concrete evidence' of domestic spying for anti-war views

RAW STORY
Published: Tuesday March 14, 2006


Print This | Email This


Documents released today by the American Civil Liberties Union reveal that the Federal Bureau of Investigations has indeed monitored political groups solely on the basis that they opposed a U.S.-led war.

According to a memo written in 2002, the FBI launched a classified investigation into the activities of Pittsburgh's Thomas Merton Center after becoming concerned that the group held "daily leaflet distribution activities in downtown Pittsburgh and [was] currently focused on its opposition to the potential war on Iraq." The memo aimed to summarize the investigation's results.

It identifies the group as "a left-wing organization advocating, among many political causes, pacifism."

The ACLU has filed Freedom of Information Act requests on behalf of over 150 organizations and individuals. The documents released as a result have revealed monitoring and infiltration of political, environmental, anti-war and faith-based groups by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.

"Something is seriously wrong in how our government determines who and what constitutes terrorism when peace activists find themselves targeted," remarked Jim Kleissler, Executive Director of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice.

Cycloptichorn

Of course. Do you believe that there's something inherently wrong with a country seeking nuclear weapons?

I understand that Iran isn't a country that we would want with nuclear weapons; we are probably a country that other people wouldn't want to have nuclear weapons, either. Do they have a right to tell us that we can't have them? Does it come down to a show of force every time in this case? Is that advisable re: Iran?

Cycloptichorn

Cycloptichorn wrote:

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/ACLU_releases_first_concrete_evidence_of_0314.html

Quote:

ACLU releases 'first concrete evidence' of domestic spying for anti-war views

RAW STORY
Published: Tuesday March 14, 2006


Print This | Email This


Documents released today by the American Civil Liberties Union reveal that the Federal Bureau of Investigations has indeed monitored political groups solely on the basis that they opposed a U.S.-led war.

According to a memo written in 2002, the FBI launched a classified investigation into the activities of Pittsburgh's Thomas Merton Center after becoming concerned that the group held "daily leaflet distribution activities in downtown Pittsburgh and [was] currently focused on its opposition to the potential war on Iraq." The memo aimed to summarize the investigation's results.

It identifies the group as "a left-wing organization advocating, among many political causes, pacifism."

The ACLU has filed Freedom of Information Act requests on behalf of over 150 organizations and individuals. The documents released as a result have revealed monitoring and infiltration of political, environmental, anti-war and faith-based groups by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.

"Something is seriously wrong in how our government determines who and what constitutes terrorism when peace activists find themselves targeted," remarked Jim Kleissler, Executive Director of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice.

Cycloptichorn

The FBI has kept tabs on suspected anti-American groups for at least decades. No news here.

Do you think the fair thing to do is to allow Iran to have them? Is that what you would advocate?

Debra_Law wrote:

Beware of Bush's accusations against IRAN. We can't believe a single word that tumbles out of the prevaricator's mouth.

How soon will it be before he sends our troops into Iran? First Afghanistan . . . then Iraq . . . and soon Iran. You know Bush has an itchy trigger finger . . . and Halliburton wants to control Iranian oil fields and acquire billions more in lucrative war contracts before Bush's presidential term ends.

Whatever is good for the filthy rich republicans and Haliburton is good for the Country. Send your sons to die for Halliburton . . . I mean, for the United States. God Bless America.

A better idea is to let Iran get nuclear weapons, then hope they don't give them away to terrorists?


Good plan, Debra. You are the voice of reason.

Like all Americans, I woke up on the morning of September 11th, 2001 as though it was simply another day. The horrific events that unfolded made it anything but, and our lives were changed forever. In the days after 9/11, I was proud to stand with the President in strong support of the authorization to use force against those who attacked us. During those days our President showed great leadership. Politics were put aside, the country pulled together and for a brief time we were united.

In the four-plus years since, everything changed. The President exploited the climate of anxiety, misusing the trust he was given in the wake of the attacks on 9/11 to, among other things, grab intrusive powers in the Patriot Act, and take us into a war in Iraq that has been a diversion from the critical fight against terrorism.

Serious questions remain about certain provisions in the Patriot Act that threaten the privacy of innocent Americans, and about the basis for the claims the administration made in leading us into the Iraq war. In both of those instances, Congress gave its approval to the President's actions, however mistaken that approval may have been.

That was not the case with the illegal domestic wiretapping program authorized by the President shortly after September 11th. The President violated the law, ignored the Constitution and two branches of government, and disregarded the rights and freedoms upon which our country was founded. No one questions whether the government should wiretap terrorists -- of course we should, and we can under current law. But the President is refusing to follow that law, which includes safeguards to protect innocent Americans, and instead he's making up his own law. It's time that he is held accountable for breaking the law.

Congress may consider a range of other actions, including investigations, an independent counsel, or even impeachment. But at a minimum, and as a first step, Congress should censure a president who has so plainly broken the law.

Today I will introduce a Senate resolution censuring the President.

The facts and the case for censure are clear. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, makes it a crime to wiretap American citizens without a court warrant - which is what the President has admitted doing. Before the program was revealed, he also misled Congress and the American people about the wiretapping that was being done. For example, at a 2004 speech in Buffalo, he said, "Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires, a wiretap requires a court order." And at a 2004 speech in my home state of Wisconsin, he said that "the government can't move on wiretaps or roving wiretaps without getting a court order."

When the domestic spying story first broke, the President went from saying he wouldn't be able to talk about it, to suggesting there was no other way to wiretap terrorists, to implying that the FISA law is out of date. He went on to claim that sweeping inherent powers of the presidency or the authorization of force back in 2001 gave him such authority -- neither of which is legally or factually correct. While the President has cherry-picked information before, he cannot do the same with the laws of our land.

Censuring the President is not something that should be taken lightly. But the President has BROKEN the law and there needs to be action and accountability